Healthy Happy and Free

EM + PACT is a company that makes energy bars. But that's not all they do. They are on a mission to empower women to reach their goals and be the best version of themselves . That's a lot for a little bar to do.  They note that the protein bar industry is mainly geared towards men (which I personally feel is debatable) and want to empower women. Their intent in their business structure, ingredients and core values is to take into consideration what women need and want aka something that doesn't taste nasty or make me feel ill. They use pure, simple ingredients that you can likely recognize. I enjoy understanding what I'm putting in my body so that's great! They currently have three flavors: Maple-licious, Coconut Crave, and Chocolate Cherry Bling. You can tell they are marketing to women, even in the flavor names and packaging. Features: paleo friendly 10g protein Non-GMO contain superfoods like flax, chia, etc.  no artificial sweeteners glute...

Are you ready for the new year? Where did 2017 go?! 2018, this will be my year. Who's starting strong with a January Whole30? Well, I have a different proposition for you. A Whole∞. That's right infinity. I propose you pursue a lifestyle that fulfills you rather that a "reset" program or sugar detox or whatever trend you see popping up on the internet. I personally have been tempted to do a Whole30. I read articles with people singing it's praises and I'm not shaming anyone who's done it or felt they benefited from it. Personally, however, I don't think it would be beneficial to me or to many others. Rather than just being a blog post about why I disagree with the Whole30, I thought I'd recommend a different approach. Whole∞. What does that mean? It means rather than setting short term goals that may end up frustrating you, making long term changes to happier, healthier you. Close your eyes and imagine how you want your life to be and ho...

Are there mysteries lurking in the grocery store or maybe even your cabinets? What is cacao and what mystery ingredient poses a threat to my canine friend? Here are a few of my recent discoveries! Cacao versus Cocoa Cacao beans are dried, fermented and roasted at a low temperature which separates the fat whereas cocoa is roasted at a high temperature. Cocoa is considered "sweeter" and better for baking whereas cacao has more antioxidants and cacao nibs are high in fiber.   Pro tip: Cacao Nibs do not melt! I ordered them in the heat of the summer and was happy to discover that they don't melt so I didn't need to pay extra for shipping. This may be a negative if you are trying to make a cacao coating in which case, you may need to turn to a different product.  Xylitol  Xylitol is a sweetener derived from some plants. It has 40% less calories than sugar and is found in many products from chewing gum to peanut butter. Certain studies indicate that i...

Gotta get them gains! Right? There are a variety of reasons why someone might gain weight intentionally. However, even having this intention, it can still be a challenge. Here are some tips to conquer those fears and accept and love your body. Be aware that your clothes will fit differently and you may want to buy some new clothes.  It's inevitable that as you gain weight, your clothes will fit differently. I, personally, feel physically uncomfortable when I wear clothes that are so tight, they feel restrictive, so when I gained, I bought new clothes! It's a great excuse to go shopping and will help you feel confident if you're comfortable and happy with what you're wearing.  Take people's comments with a grain of salt.  I gained quite of bit of weight in a treatment facility for eating disorders, so when I finished treatment, I was quite obviously heavier. Certain individuals made comments about my weight gain but I had to remember that they trul...

Wowza. That's quite a mighty claim considering the massive market for nut/seed butters and spreads. Now, if you simply walk into your chain grocery store and meander down the peanut butter aisle, you may see a good number of options, however, if you expand your search to farmer's markets, the internet, and beyond, you will be absolutely astonished at the number of options.  I consider myself a bit of an expert. I have tried many a nut butter, some good, some not-so-good. I decided to attempt to compile my top 10. It's difficult because some brands offer a wide array of flavors and some may be amazing while others fall short. Some brands are made fresh on a small scale so one batch may be a little better than another, but I'll do my best. I took into consideration taste, consistency and ingredients.  Top 10 Nut Butters and Spreads Epic Spreads   This stuff is truly EPIC. I actually first came across Epic Spreads by winning it in a giveaway a few years ...

Heyyooo, It's Friday again. It comes every week. Aren't we blessed? So with it being Friday, here are a few things I've been digging lately! Squash I did not previously know the wonders of winter squash. Butternut to spaghetti to pumpkin and beyond. Winter squashes are so comforting and many of them have a sweetness to them. I've been roasting and enjoying squashes more than ever before and finding new uses for them. Some favorites are using butternut in healthy desserts, using acorn as an edible dish, or using spaghetti squash in place of pasta. I love to smell them roasting! I haven't been able to find Delicata or Kabocha but I'm on the hunt! Acorn Squash stuffed with an egg scramble! Brooks Ravenna 8 So I can't say I'm in love with them because they haven't even arrived! I currently run in the Brooks Ravenna 7 and have had no issues with them. I rely on a more stabilizing shoe because I am prone to injuries due to my imb...

Do you ever see someone running down the road and think: "Wow, that looks so fun, but I don't know where to start"? Maybe you just think you're not a runner. That's totally fine - we all enjoy different things, however, I believe that anyone can become a runner if that's what they truly want! Here are some tips that can help you to get started! Find a running buddy ! This is not just for motivation, because if you truly want to start running, you have some intrinsic motivation (though it can be challenged on chilly/rainy days lol), but when you start running, you're going to talk about running. Trust me, your non-running friends won't really care to hear about your pace or distance or those hills you conquered. You could join a running group or club, find a friend who wants to start running as well or maybe you already have a friend that runs! Start slow ! When I started running, I could not run a mile without stopping and that's true for ma...